Machine for applying postage-stamps to letters.



A. R. PAULSON.-

MACHINE FOR APPLYING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.Z3, 1912. 1,155,956. Patented Oct. 5,1915.

COLUMBIA PLANomzAgH COuWASmM-TON, DJ.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, I912.

Patented Oct. 5,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R a, I mh E N i, v I a wg Z T. a a. I a m I i/ -I v D/ I A N W NA m. f Iw I m I &

I xilmm w mw W COLUMNA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASHINGTON D C A. R. PAULSON.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23. 1912.

1,155,956. Patented Oct. 5,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- COLUMBIA PLANOCIMPH 60., wAsl-HNATA'OFI D. c.

A. R. PAULSON.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING POSTAGE STAMPS T0 LETTERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, 1912.

1,155,956, I Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Winn; QII

Igggggmuga: III I mmm mm m "It ARTHUR- n. rAULsoN, or CLARKFIELD',MINNESOTA.

MACHINE ron APPLYING Pos'rAGn-s'rAMrs TO LETTERS.

Speeii cation of Letters Patent.

PatentedOct. 5, 1915.

Application filed August 23, 1912 Serial No. 716,685.

the letters in bulk and for automatically feeding one letter at a timeinto position to' be moistened and to receivethe postage stamp which issubsequently applied, to the moistened spot.

The invention further contemplates a carrier upon which is placed asheet ofpostage stamps, said carrier being mounted upon a carriage andmovable thereon to bring a row of postage stamps in position to besuccessively applied to letters in rotation.

The invention also provides novel actuat-v ing means for moving thecarriage forward step-bv-step to'bring the postage stamps in properposition for application to the letters, said mechanism embodyingelements for returning the carriage quickly to v the starting or firstposition after the last stamp of a row has been applied, said mechanismbeing automatic in operation, thereby .pre-

renting loss oftime and enabling the work to liee vpeditiouslyperformed.

The invention moreoverembodies unique means for engaging the stamp sheetto hold he same upon the stamp guide during the time that the stampcarrier returning to.

a normal position after advancing the stamp sheet to bring the next rowof stamps into position to be applied in the further operation of themachine, the stamp sheet being released when the stamp carrier hasreturned to its initial position upon the car riage. i i

' A further purpose of the invention is the provision of a single devicefor cutting the postage. stamps from the stamp sheet and at the sametime pressing such stamps upon the letters. k

The invention furthermore contemplates a peculiar moistener andactuatingmeans therefor for dampening the envelop preliminary toreceiving the postage stamps which are subsequently affixed thereto in acont nuous operation of the machine.

The invention'has for its further purpose to devise novel actuatingmeans properly timed for operating the different parts at predeterminedstages to insure positive, certain and effective action sothat themachine as a whole may be depended upon for carrying out the purposeforwhichH-itis constructed. 4 Y

The invention consists 'of the novelfeatures, details of constructionand combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularlyset forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe appended claims. I I

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specification,- Figure1' is a top; plan view of a postage stamp affixing chine constructed inaccordance with and:

embodying essential features of the inven tion. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection on, the line 2+2 of Fig. 1, looklng in the direction Fig. 3 is asectional detail of the arrows. on the line 33 of Fig. 1, viewed in thedirection of the arrows. Fig. at is a transverse section of the'machineon the line al of Fig. 1, looking to the right, as designated bythe arrow; view of .the machine, the carriage, the hopper and theenvelop feeding devices being omitted to show more clearly the operatingmechanism for the several parts. Fig. 5 1

a detail view of the cams, showing their rel Fig. 5' is a top plan ativeposition when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 5; Fig..6 is a top plan view of a port1on of the operating mechanism, showingthe relation of the parts when an envelop 1s in position to receiveajstamp. Fig. 6 is a detall View,

showing the relation of the cams when the parts are in the positionsubstantially as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 isa top plan View of theoperating mechanism, showing the relation of the parts after thestamphas been applied to the envelop and the parts tripped to return thecarriage to the initial or starting position, Fig; Wis a detail viewindicating the relationofthe cams when the partsare in the positionsubstantially as in dicated in Fig.7, Fig. 8 is a detail plan view ofthe operating -mechanism, showing the relation of the parts after thecarriage has been returned to the starting position and prior totripping the returning mecha;

nism to throw the same out of action. Fig; 9 is a view similar to Fig.8, showing the relation of the parts after the carriage returningmechanism has been thrown out of operation. Fig. 9 is a detail view,showing the relative position of the cams when the parts are in theposition indicated in Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a detail end view of thecarriage, a part of the track and the operating mech anism associatedtherewith. Fig. 11 is a detail view of parts of the carriage and thepawl for preventing backward movement thereof and showing part of theholder for securing the stamp sheet upon the carrier.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the samereference characters.

The operating parts of the machine are suitably mounted, a stand beingillustrated for this purpose and comprising a table 1 and legs 2. Atrack 3 is mounted upon standards 4:, secured at their lower ends to thetable 1, and supports the stamp carriage 5 and stamp carrier 6. Thestamp carriage has an intermittent movement imparted thereto to bringthe postage stamps of a row in position to be applied to the letters inrotation. The stamp carrier receives a sheet 7 of postage stamps and ismoved to bring a row of postage stamps in position said stamp carrierbeing moved at such times only as is necessary'to advance the stampsheet after the last stamp of a row has been used.

The stamp carrier 6 preferably consists of a plate and the stamp sheet 7is placed thereon and held lightly by means of spring actuated strips 8.The strips 8 are pressed upon the stamp sheet by means of springs 9,which are mounted upon pins 10, the same being guided in their movementsby brackets 11 rising from the edges of the stamp carrier The outer railof the track is provided with ratchet teeth 12 which are adapted to beengaged by means of a pawl 13 to hold the stamp carriage againstbackward movement when the operating pawl is returning to an operativeposition. A lever 14 pivoted between its ends to a side of the carriage5 has its outer end connected by means of a rod 15 with the pawl. 13.Pressure by hand upon the inner end of the le ver 13 disengages the pawl13 from the ratchet teeth 12, thereby admitting of the carriage beingreturned to a starting position upon further operation of the machine.Then the stamp carriage is at the starting or normal position it is heldin place by means of a pawl 16 engaging a stop 3 of a member of thetrack 3. A lever 17 pivoted between its ends to the carirage 5 has oneend arranged to engage under the pawl 16 and its opposite end to bepressed upon by means of a lever 18. A rod 19 connects the lever 18 witha lever 20, which is pivoted to the carriage adjacent the handle 21.Pressure by hand upon the lever 20 disengages the pawl 16 from the trackso that operation of the machine will move the carriage forward so. asto bring the next postage stamp in position to be applied to the letteror envelop to be stamped.

A rack bar 22 is arranged belowthe stamp carriage and has connection atits ends therewith and comprises a number of teeth corresponding withthe rows of postage stamps contained in. the stamp sheet. The carriage 5is moved. forward by means of the rack bar 22 a distance to bring thenext postage stamp in position to be applied. A pawl 23 is arranged toengage the teeth of the rack bar 22 and is pivotally connected to an arm24 which is pivoted at its lower end to a stud rising from the table 1.The pawl 23 is of elbow form, its member 25 being pendent and having aspring 26 connected thereto, the opposite end of said spring being attached to a convenient part of the machine. The spring 26 normally holdsthe pawl in engagement with the teeth of the rack bar 22. The pivotedarm is adapted to be engaged by means of a cam 27 splined upon theoperating shaft 28. At each complete revolution of the shaft 28 thestamp carriage 5 is moved forward the distance of a postage stamp by theoperation of the cam 2?, arms 24-, pawl 23 and rack bar 22. After thecarriage has reached the limit of its forward movement the cam 27 isshifted on the shaft 28, thereby admitting of the carriage beingreturned to a normal or starting position. A rod 29 engages the pawl 23and passes through the upper end of a bar 30, which has its lower endpivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank 31 pivoted to a studattached to the table 1. The bar 30 is attached to a link 32 havingpivotal. connection at its outer end with a bracket 33 extending fromthe table 1. After the carriage has reached the limit of its forwardmovement the outer end of the rod 29 is depressed, thereby lifting thepawl 23 so as to clear the teeth of the rack bar 22. The shaft 28 ismounted in suitable bearings 33 and is adapted to be operated by handand for this purpose is supplied with a crank 3.4:. Two cams 27 and 35are mounted upon the shaft 28, the cam 27 being splined thereto and thecam 35' being fixed. A crank 36 is carried by the shaft 28 and operatesthe moistening and the envelop feeding mechanisms. A sleeve 27'fiX8dthereto and is splined to the shaft 28. A shipper lever 38, pivoted to apost at 39, engages the sleeve 37 and moves the same upon the shaft 28.A '1' lever 40 pivoted at 4-1 to a post has one arm connected with theshipper lever 38. A second arm of the lever 40 has a pin 42 adapted toenter a slot 43 formed in one end of a bar 44:, which is pivotallyconnected at its opposite end to a lever 45 pivotally 37 has the cammounted upon the post 39. The other arm of the lever 40 is adapted to beengaged by means of a catch 46 which is pivoted to a post 47. The bar 44has a notch 48 in communication with the slot 43 and adapted to receivethe pin 42. This mechanism serves to shift the sleeve 37 and cam 27 onthe shaft 28 into or out of the path of the arm 24. When the stampcarriage is returning to the starting or normal position after the laststamp of a row has been applied the cam 27 is moved so as to clear thearm 24, there by preventing operation of the feed pawl 23.

A link 49 connects the, free end of the lever with an arm 50, which ispivoted at 51 to a stud applied to the table 1, said arm being arrangedto be engaged by the cam 35. A spring 52 connected at one end to a part01' the framework of the machine has its opposite end connected to thelever 45 and exerts a force thereon to hold the arm 50 in engagementwith the cam. 85. A spring exerts a pulling force upon the end of theslotted link 44 provided with the pin 42, thereby holding the latter inthe slot 48. So long as the bar 44 occupies the position shown in Figs.5, 6 and 7 it is free to reciprocate without imparting any movement tothe lever 40, but as soon as thebar 44 is released it moves into theposition shown 1'? Fig. 9, thereby causing the pin 42 to enter the notch48, whereby upon the next movement of the bar 44 the lever 40 is movedto throw the cam 27 in position to engage the arm 24 so as to advancethe stamp carriage to bring the stamps in position to be applied to theenvelops or letters. The normal position of the parts is indicated mostclearly in Fig. 6, the catch 46 engaging: the free arm of the lever 40and holding the cam 27 in operative position.

An elbow lever 54, pivoted upon the post 39, has one end bent to providea stop to engage an edge of the bar 44 to prevent the notch 48 thereofengaging the pin 42. A

link connects one arm of the elbow lever 54 with one arm of a lever 56,the opposite arm of said lever being pivoted to a bar 57, which ismounted in suitable guides 58 to receive a longitudinal movement. Aspring 59 normally exerts a pulling force upon the end of the lever56'having the bar 57 attached thereto so as to press the latterforwardly. A catch 60 is piveted at one end to the post or support ofthe lever 56 and is provided with a downward projection 60' which isadapted to engage a stop 61 formed by notching the bar 57 so as to holdthe latter against the tension of the spring 59 and out of the path ofthe cam 27. A trip lever 62 pivoted to a post 63 has one member incontact with the catch 60, its other member being pivoted to a bar 64having its free end bent to provide'a stop 65, which is arranged in thepath of a trip upon the its movements by'a guide 66 projecting up wardlyfrom the table 1. The trip for en gaging the stop is indicated at 67 andconsists-of a pin projecting laterally from a lever 68 pivoted at 69 toa lug 70 pendent from the carriage 5. A link 71 connects the upper endof the lever 68 with an arm 72, hich is pivoted at its upper end to thecarriage A connection 73 is interposed between the arm 72 and one end ofa lever 74 pivoted at 75 to the carriage, the opposite end of said leverhaving connection at 6 with the stamp" carrier 6 for moving the sameforward to advance the stamp sheet. A spring 76 returns the stampcarrier to normal position after the stamp sheet has been advanced.

The means for returning the stamp car; riage to normal or startingposition embody an arm 77, which is loose upon the shaft 28. A link 78connects the arm 77 with a pendent portion 79 of the carriage. A halfclutch 80 is secured to the shaft 28 andis adapted to engage a halfclutch 81 formed with the arm 77. The arm 77 is loose upon the shaft 28and rotates therewith only at such times when the carriage is to bereturned to a starting or normal position. An expansible helicalspring82 is mounted upon the shaft 28 between a set collar 83 and aloose collar 84. When the spring 82 is not held in restraint it forcesthe collarv 84 against the arm 77 and presses the teeth of the halfclutch 81 into engagementwith the teeth of the half clutch 80, therebycausing the arm 77 to partially rotate,-thereby returning the stampcarriage to its first posi tion. A shipper lever 85 pivoted between itsends is arranged to have one end engage the l collar 84 and itsoppositeend arranged to be engaged by a lever 86, which is pivoted at 87. A bar88 connects the free end of the bell crank 86 with one arm of a bellcrank 89,

pivoted at 90. 'A bar 91 connects the opposite end of the bell crank 89with one arm of a bell crank 92, pivoted at 93. A bar 94 con nects theother arm of the bell crank 92 with the arm of the T lever 40 having thepin 42.

WVhen the spring 82 is compressed the arm 77 remains, inactive duringthe operation of,

the machine to feed the envelope and to aflix the postage stampsthereto. The spring 82 is held compressed by means of the catch 46-engaging the free arm of the lever 40. When the catch 46 is tripped soas to release the lever 40 the spring 82 expands and,

throws the half clutch of the arm 77 into engagement with the halfclutch 80 whereby in the continued operation of the machinethe carriage1s returned to starting position;

&

As the stamp carriage reaches the limit of its return movement the trip67 is brought in close proximity to the stop 65 and the arm 72 isbrought in position to be engaged by the cam 27, with the result that inthe continued rotation of the shaft 28 the cam 27 operates the arm 72and the lever 68, thereby bringing the trip 67 against the stop 65 tomove the bar 6% so as to press the catch 60 away from the bar 57, whichlatter is moved forward by the spring 59, which brings its inner end inposition to be engaged by the arm 24 when next operated by the cam 27VJhen the bar 57 is moved forward by the spring 59 the lever 51 is movedinto the position indicated in Fig. 9, the stop at its tree end beingcarried away from the bar 14, which latter is moved by the spring 53 tobring the notch 418 in position to receive the pin 12 so as to form aninterlocking connection between the bar 415% and the lever 40. As theshaft 28 continues to turn the cam engages the arm and moves the lever15, bar 1% and lever 40, thereby returning the cam 27 into its first orworking position when it operates the arm 24 and at the same timepresses the bar 57 outward against the tension of the spring 59, saidbar being heldin its outward position by the catch 60 entering the notch61. As the bar 57 moves outward the lever 54; is operated to bring thestop at its free end into engagement with the bar 14, which is moved tocause the notch 18 to clear the pin 42 so that the arm 50 in' itsfurther movements may not operate the lever to. Simultaneously with theoperation of the lever 10 to return the cam 27 to normal position the lever 86 is operated, thereby moving the shipper lever to compress thespring 82 and to ward in the next operation of the cam 27.

The guide for the postage stamps is indicated at 97 and consists of abar at one side of the track and parallel therewith, the upper sidebeing in the plane of the stamp carrier so that when the latter is moveda portion of the stamp sheet 7 corresponding to row of postage stamps isprojected over the guide 97 and is supported thereby. A stamp holder 98is located along the outer edge of the stamp guide and is depressed togrip the projecting edge of the stamp sheet after the same has beenreceived upon the stamp guide, thereby retaining the stamp sheet duringthe time that the stamp carrier holder 98 is operated to grip the stampsheet a moment after the stamp carriage has been returned to its firstposition and after the stamp carrier has been moved to advance the stampsheet and just prior to the return of the stamp carrier to its firstposition. The stamp holder 98 consists of a bar mounted to movevertically in guides 99 located at the outer edge of the stamp guide. Abell crank 100 has its horizontal arm pivoted to the stamp holder 98andits vertical arm pivoted to a bar or rod 101, which in turn isconnected to one end of a lever 102 pivoted upon an end of the stampguide. An upright lever 103 has its upper end engaging the inner end ofthe lever 102, the lower end of said lever 103 having a pin and slotconnection with a rod or bar 104 attached to the arm 50. A spring 105connected with the lower end of the lever 103 exerts a force normallytending to press the stamp holder 98 upon the stamp sheet. A catch 106has one end arranged to engage a notch formed in an edge of theconnection 101, thereby holding the part 98 elevated against the tensionof the spring 105. The catch 106 is pivoted at 107 and a spring 108 isarranged to press one end of the catch outwardly and its opposite endinwardly into engagement with the connection 101. A stop 109 is attachedat one end to the catch 106 and overhangs the stamp holder 98 and has anend portion arranged to be struck by the angular portion 11 of thebrackets 11 when the stamp carrier is advanced, thereby releasing thecatch 106 so that the spring 105 may come into play to operate the stampholder 98 to grip the row of stamps at the edge portion of the stampsheet extending over the stamp guide 97. As the stamp car- 4 rierreturns to its normal position the stop 109 being relieved of pressurepermits the catch 106 under the action of the spring 108 to come intoengagement with the connection 101 so that the next time the arm 50 is lmoved and operates the lever 103 to elevate the stamp holder 98 thelatter is held raised by the catch 106. The pin and slot connectionbetween the lever 103 and connection 104 admits of said connectionmoving with out operating the lever 103 after the same has been moved toraise the stamp holder 98 and the latter is held elevated by means ofthe catch 106.

The stamp cutter and presser is indicated A at 110 and operates throughan opening formed in one end of the stamp guide. The part 110 is bentbetween its .ends and has an arm 111 pendent therefrom which isconnected to a bar or rod 112 which is pivoted at is returned to normalposition. The stamp beneath the stamp guide and the part 110 operatesthrough the opening of the stamp guide to separate a stamp from thestamp sheet and at the same time press it upon the moistened spot of theenvelop.

The envelop or letters to be stamped are designated by the numeral 114:and are arranged in a pile in a hopper at one end of a guideway. Thehopper comprises a fixed wall 116 and an adjustable wall 115 which ismovable vertically as well as toward or away from'the 'wall 115, therebyadapting the hopper to envelops or letters of different sizes. A bar 117extends horizontally from the adjustable wall 116 and is movable in anextension 118 at the upper end of the wall 115. Set screws 119 threadedinto the extension 118 engage the bar 117 to move the same so as toraise or lower the Wall 116 to regulate the space beneath the lower edgeof said wall 116 and the guideway to suit the thickness of the envelopsor letters to be delivered through such space. A follower 120 rests uponthe pile of letters or envelops to insure proper feed thereof. The bar117 is adapted to tilt upon a fulcrum 121' at the lower side of theopening in the extension 118 through which the bar 117 passes.

The guideway for the letters or envelops is shown at 122. Feed bars123are mounted in the guideways and are provided at intervals in theirlength with pins 124:, which are slightly inclined so as to ride beneaththe envelops or letters when the feeder is returning to a startingposition and to engage with the lowermost envelop or letter and advancethe same along the guideway on the forward movement of the feed bars.The letters or envelops are fed by stages. The first movement withdrawsanenvelop from the bottom of the pile and places it in position to bemoistened. The next movement advances the envelop to a position toreceive the postage stamp. The third movement delivers the stampedenvelop from the machine. The envelops pass beneath a bar 125 and underthe edge of a strip 126. The bar 125 is arranged at one side of theguideway and the strip 126 at the opposite side of said guideway. Adeflector 127 engages the advancing edge of an envelop as the same isdischarged from the hopper so as to direct the same under the strip 126.A pivoted stop 128 is located at one side of the guideway and serves thedouble purpose of preventing the envelop from following the feeder onits return stroke and also to properly position the envelop to receivethe moisture preliminaryv to the application of the postage stamp.Ejectors 129 are attached to the ends of the feed bars 123 and theirextremities terminate in hooks 130, which engage the stamped envelop andeffect delivery thereof from the machine. When the machine is inoperation the feeder moves three envelops at a time, one from the hopperinto position to be moistened, one from the moistener into position toreceive the postage stamp and one from the stamp position clear of themachine. feeding mechanism is operated from the shaft 28 by means of thecrank 36. A bar such time the feeding mechanism remains inactive so asnot to advance an envelop The envelop without having a postage stampapplied,

thereto. This result may be accomplished in different ways and as showna bar 13 1 connects the bar 131 with the crank 36, the latter beingloose upon the shaft 28 and having teethto engage with matching teeth ona sleeve 135 splined to the shaft 28 and normally pressed outwardly intoclutched engagement with the crank 36 by means of a spring 136. Ashipper lever 137 engages the sleeve or clutch member 135 and a rod 138connects said lever with a'bell crank 139, the latter being connected tothe bar 57 by means of a pin 148 positioned within the hook-like portion149 of the bar 57. I When the'bar 57 moves inward the bell crank 139 isoperated to move the lever 137 and release the crank 36, but whensaidbar 57 is pressed outward the lever 137 is free to'move under the actionof the spring 136 so as to bring the crank 36 into clutched engagementwith the shaft 38. I w

The envelop moistener embodies'a pan 140 and a dampener or pad 141. Thepan 1 10 is located at one side of the letter or envelop.

guideway and near the hopper. The dampener or pad 141 is pivotedintermediate of its ends to an arm 1 12, which in turn is connected to aslide bar 1 13 arranged to m ve in suitable guides. slide bar 143 withone arm of a 'bell crank 145,which is pivoted to an arm 1416 project-'ing from the table 1. A link 146 connects the bell crank with the crank36 so that in the operation of the latter the moistener is operated todampen the envelop at the proper time and preliminary tothe' affixingjof the postage stamp thereto. I From the foregoing description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawof the method of operation will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich the inventionappertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of theinvention, together with the device which I now consider to be the bestembodiment A link 14:4 connects the ,ings, the advantages oftheconstruction and thereof, I desire to have it understood that thedevice shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be madewhen desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

VVhat I claim is 1. In a machine of the character set forth and incombination with a stamp affixing mechanism, a carriage, a carriermounted upon said carriage and adapted to receive a sheet of stamps,means for moving the carriage intermittently, means for preventingbackward movement of the carriage during the return of the firstmentioned means, means for releasing the carriage after a row of stampshave been used, and other means for moving the carrier laterally tobring the neXt row of stamps in position to be applied.

2. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a trackprovided with teeth, a carriage mounted upon said track, feedingmechanism for advancing the car-. riage intermittently, a pawl movablewith the carriage and adapted to engage the teeth of the track toprevent backward movement of the carriage during the return of thefeeding mechanism to normal position, a carrier mounted upon thecarriage and adapted to receive a sheet of stamps, means for moving saidcarrier laterally to bring the next row of stamps in position to beapplied, and means connected with the carria e to effect disengagementof the pawl to admit return of the carriage to normal position.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of acarriage, a rack bar connected with said carriage, a pawl arranged toengage the teeth of the rack .bar, a carrier mounted upon said carriageand adapted to receive a sheet of stamps, means for impartingintermittent movement of the pawl for advancing the carriage step bystep, a rod engaging such pawl, a guide adapted to cooperate with saidrod, means for imparting lateral movement to the carrier to bring thenext row of stamps in position to be applied, and means for moving theguide to throw the pawl clear of the rack bar to admit of the carriagereturning to normal position.

a. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of acarriage, a rack bar connected with said carriage a pivoted arm, a pawlconnected with the pivoted arm and adapted to engage the teeth of therack bar, means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the pivotedarm, a rod having con nection with the pawl, a guide engaging said rod,a carrier mounted upon said can riage, and adapted to receive a sheet ofstamps, means for moving said carrier laterally to bring the neXt row ofstamps in position to be applied, and means for moving said guide torelease said pawl from the rack bar to admit of returning the carriageto normal position.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acarriage, a rack bar having connection with said carriage, a pawlengaging the teeth of the rack bar, an arm having the pawl pivotallyconnected thereto, an operating shaft, a cam splined to the operatingshaft and arranged to impart oscillatory movement to said arm, means formoving the cam on the operating shaft into and out of the plane of theoscillatory arm, a carrier mounted upon said carriage and adapted toreceive a sheet of stamps, and means for moving said carrier laterallyto bring the row of stamps in position to be applied.

6. In a machine of the character specified and in combination with thestamp aflixing mechanism, a stamp carriage, feeding mechanism foradvancing the stamp carriage, a pawl mounted upon the carriage and adapted to engage a stop to hold such ca "riage in normal position, a levermounted upon the carriage and adapted to engage the said pawl, alinger-piece, and connecting means between such finger-piece and leverto ad-- mit of release of the pawl to admit of forward movement of thecarriage.

7. In a machine of the character specified the combination of stampa'lhxing mechanism, a stamp carriage, a feeding mechanism for advancingthe stamp carriage, means brought into action by said carriage forthrowing the feeding mechanism out of action, means for returning thecarriage to normal position and brought into play by the movement of thecarriage, and other means brought into operation by the car riage forthrowing the feeding mechanism into action when the carriage hasreturned to normal position.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR R. PAULSON.

Witnesses:

H. H. GALBRAITH, C. F. LIEBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

